Pacing impairment - Rapid flaccidity of motor suppression in patients with cerebrovascular disorders

What is it about?

Patients with cerebrovascular disorders (CVD) tend to exhibit ‘pacing impairment’, impulsive behaviour without controlling their movements. This study experimentally examined such hastiness with ‘square tracing task’. CVD patients showed rapid flaccidity of motor suppression. This phenomenon was not associated with any other specific neuropsychological symptoms or lesion site.

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Photo by Max Bender on Unsplash

Photo by Max Bender on Unsplash

Why is it important?

‘Pacing impairment’ has received little attention except by Japanese researchers, and its pathophysiology is still not fully elucidated. This symptom cannot be attributed to any other specific neuropsychological symptom or localized cerebral lesions, but rather manifests as a generalized or holistic attention deficit that is widely distributed throughout the cerebral hemispheres. A better understanding of the characteristics of the hastiness of CVD patients may allow for appropriate interventions to help them behave safely and independently.